1.YOU’LL LIKE MY MOTHER-1972
I saw this film many, many years ago and was not sure what to expect since it starred cute Patty Duke and wholesome Richard Thomas. I was in shock to find out that this was not a wholesome Thanksgiving flick but a really freaky horror movie with Patty Duke as a very pregnant widow who decides to meet his mother not realizing that it is her dead hubby’s Aunt who is harbouring her demented rapist son played by, you guessed it, Richard Thomas. There were no Waltons around and no saying Goodnight John-Boy in this film. It is really creepy and one I wouldn’t mind seeing again.
2. RAVENOUS-1999
Ok, let’s start this off with it being disgusting since it involves cannibalism but it also is darkly funny. I love Robert Carlyle who wanders into this remote army post who talks about him being the only survivor of 5. Set during the 1840s, Guy Pierce is sent to this remote post with a group of misfit army men and is rightly suspicious of Carlyle. Before the small cavalry can say, “Indians, help us”, they begin to die in the most gruesome way. Guy Pierce soon realizes that not all seems to be right in the world but he is stuck in the snow and now he must figure out a way to survive. This is a very funny western horror film that has more depth than many other films of this year.
3. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN-2008
It is winter in Sweden when a young girl and, whom we think is her dad, come to this town during the night. She sees a young boy who is bullied in school and who sticks to himself. He also sees this square peg of a girl and they start to develop a friendship that you know, one day, will turn romantic...maybe. When she asks if he will let her into his home, you know there is something more to this gal than meets the eye. She becomes his protector from the bullies especially in a pretty grisly scene in a swimming pool. You realize he will protect her as well since she can't be in daylight. This is a moody, atmospheric film with some young romance, friendship and blood thrown in for good measure. I really like this film despite the blood.
See, no Shining! Which films would you choose?
Heeeeeeeeeer's Shady!
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
I've taken a Shining to you, dear friend. While Fred & Ginger musicals are my very favorite type of film :) I also love horror, and thank you for introducing me to three fright flicks I have not yet seen.
I love Patty Duke's acting. Based on the clip and description, You'll Like My Mother seems to be my kind of movie. I am also currently enjoying Richard Thomas as I binge watch the TV series The Americans for the second time.
Gruesome reminds me of another dark comedy horror film - Cannibal Girls. I own the poster! Next time I'm hungry for revolting western style horror, I will give Gruesome a look.
I'm pretty sure I have seen the title "Let The Right One In" listed among the horror genre offerings on Netflix or Prime. I will give it a look.
Thanks again for reviewing three spookers that I somehow missed. Have a great day and weekend, dear friend BB!
I am certain you would love all 3. Seeing Richard Thomas against type shocked me when I was young because I only knew him as John-Boy. Ravenous is surprisingly funny in a dark twisted way and I have to thank my niece(I should say my brother's child as she considers herself Binary) for the last film which is really quite touching.
DeleteLet the Right One In is an excellent choice. Otherwise all I can think of are really bad Santa-slasher films.
ReplyDeleteYes, There are a few mean Santa's out there which I will always pass on:).
Deletewas my obvious choice. I haven't seen your first pick, but the other two are good ones.
ReplyDeleteI guess The Thing (either version) might be an appropriate pick since it takes place in an isolated snowing place. I'll also suggest Snow Piercer even though it's not so much horror, but I did think it was kind of scary and violent.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I am assuming you meant to say The Shining was your obvious choice. I almost went with the original The Thing. Nothing beats James Arness as a big carrot. I still have to see Snow Piercer.
DeleteYeah, "The Shining"--weird. I could have sworn I typed that in. Another weird glitch perhaps.
Delete"Snow Piercer" I think I'd consider more dystopian than anything, but dystopian in a way is almost synonymous with horror.
Yeah...that is weird. I agree with you about dystopian
DeleteIt's been years and years since I watched You'll Like My Mother. It debuted as a TV movie in the States but I think it received a theatrical release overseas. Patty Duke was an actress of infinite variety whose emotional problems (and Valley of the Dolls) curtailed her movie career but she was a phenomenally busy television actress. This was a good scare flick for its time. The wonderful and underappreciated Rosemary Murphy was wonderful as the sick twist "mother".
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the other two but like most horror neither appealed to me.
This month continues to be tough but I did scrounge up three, my second one is NOT something I recommend but since choices were limited it made the grade!
Dead of Winter (1987)-When struggling actress Katie McGovern (Mary Steenburgen) answers a vague casting call for a leading role she is approached by the mysterious Mr. Murray (Roddy McDowall) and invited to a snowy upstate New York mansion to film a screen test. Upon arrival she meets Dr. Lewis (Jan Rubes) who eagerly hires her to replace an actress she is told suffered a nervous breakdown. However Katie shortly begins to realize dark forces are at work and trapped by both the men and the snow she soon fears for her life.
The Abominable Snowman (1957)-British scientist John Rollason (Peter Cushing) and his wife Helen (Maureen Connell) wile away their days studying plants at a monastery in the Himalayas. When his American associate Tom Friend (Forrest Tucker) arrives he proposes an expedition to find the mysterious creature Yeti aka The Abominable Snowman. Despite warnings the pair set out along with Friend's partner (Robert Brown) and a guide (Michael Brill) who claims he can find the beast. However the trip quickly becomes more dangerous than they had anticipated.
The Thing from Another World (1951)-The Air Force sends in Captain Hendry (Kenneth Tobey) and his team to the remote North Pole research base headed by scientist Dr. Arthur Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite) when he reports a crashed UFO nearby. Upon investigation they discover a strange frozen creature (James Arness). Bringing it back to the base the men quibble over how to proceed, meanwhile the creature is mistakenly defrosted and watch out!!
I knew you would not like the other 2. I saw the first one on TV like you but I thought it fit. OMG! I was going to choose your first pick but I couldn't remember much except that Roddy was a bad boy. I would love to see that film again. I knew there was an Abominable Snowman movie but i never saw it which is a bummer. I almost went with The thing and I prefer this one over the grisly remake. Love James Arness as a big carrot.
DeleteI might have to give that first one a try. It sounds really interesting and I don't watch nearly enough older movies.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the first one which was/is really creepy especially if you grew up knowing Richard Thomas as the good and wholesome John-Boy Walton.
DeleteI LOVE Let The Right One In, I feel like I always choose it for something in TMP so I didn't go with it this week.
ReplyDeleteI thought you would have chosen that one even though you spoke about it before. I had to put that one here because it was perfect and I wanted you to know I saw it and liked it ...a lot.
DeleteNot a fan of horror, so I wouldn't even know where to begin on picking three. I have heard of your third movie, but likely just because it's recent. I haven't seen any of them.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I knew this is not your forte
DeleteThe Thing would count, wouldn't it? Never heard of Ravenous, have to look that one up. That is sure a different take for John Boy.
ReplyDeleteI almost chose The Thing..the 1951 version because I like that one better than the newer version. Ravenous is good and John Boy was creepy
DeleteI'm not a fan of horror, so I don't know these, and not sure I want to know them. Happy rest of your week. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are a bit ...bloody. I plan on having a great time...making a ton of bookmarks.
DeleteLet the Right One In is amazing. Almost picked it myself, but I figured it would be popular today. Haven't seen the other two, but they do seem intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Shining would be everywhere but I’m glad so many love Let The Right One In. Hope you see the other 2.
DeleteSnow / Winter Horror?!
ReplyDeleteDang! That's getting pretty specific.
Birgit, I haven't seen any of your Top 3 choices, but that's no surprise, seeing as how I'm not really a huge fan of the "Snow / Winter Horror" genre. ;oD
Well, my #1 choice would certainly be John Carpenter's remake of 'THE THING'. One of the very few Horror movies I think is truly great.
My second choice - a very distant second - would be 'THE SHINING'. It's pretty good but a bit overrated in my opinion.
~ Stephen
(aka D-FensDogG)
Yes, this is not a fav genre for many here but you came up with 2 that fit the theme. I prefer the original The Thing over the remake which I think, a while back, you thought sucked but nothing beats Arness as a big carrot. I love The Shining...once I could finally watch it in total.
DeleteOh my gosh, I saw "You'll like my Mother." In fact I probably saw it 10 times LOL. Back in the days with double features and you didn't have to leave the movie theater after a showing, my best friend in high school and me went to the movies. "You'll like my Mother" was playing along with Harold and Maude (have you seen that movie with Ruth Gordon?) Anyway, we must have watched those 2 movies over and over again for a few days one summer vacation. I don't remember much about You'll like my Mother except thinking how could John Boy be so evil??
ReplyDeletebetty
Wow! Glad you saw that movie and John-Boy is really evil. I still have to see Harold and Maude..one of the greats I have yet to see.
DeleteWow, we share a pick with Let the Right One In. I love that film.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Excellent film.
DeleteBirgit,
ReplyDeleteThese are all three introductions. I can't say any of them grab me, though. "I See You" with Sylvester Stallone is a spooky wintry flick. It's a bit gruesome and it'll keep you on the edge of your seat.
I don’t know this one. I have to look it up.
DeleteI must've seen the Patty Duke and Richard Thomas movie back then. I remember them being in a movie together and seeing a movie in which Thomas was very creepy. The story doesn't ring a bell, but then chicken me would forget scary plots as quickly as possible. bwak, bwak.
ReplyDeleteI bet you did see it but it is a 50 yr old film...man, that’s weird to write.
DeleteTough category, sis, and I've seen Let the Right One In thanks to my youngin'. Excellent choice. It's actually surprising there aren't more winter-based horror films since it makes for such a bleak landscape. No surprise that The Shining immediately came to mind for me... as did The Thing, the John Carpenter version. There was a sequel to released a few years ago and it was very good too. Only other movie that could qualify as a "winter horror" was filmed right here in Niagara-on-the-Lake... The Dead Zone. It may be a stretch to refer to that film as a horror movie but it does have horrific moments and much of it is set in winter.
ReplyDeleteYes, your youngin made a great choice in this film. Do you remember seeing the film back then with the third wheel...meaning me? Excellent choice with The Dead Zone which I was going to choose and forgot all about it when I wrote this. I still remember watching Siskel & Ebert saying how fake the town looked as no town could look that nice.
DeleteLate again. Story of my life these past two months. It's obvious I've not seen any of these, but I'm not a fan of horror, even though I always enjoy your synopses.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like my synopsis even though I know you are not into horror.
DeleteAgain, horror's definitely not my jam...
ReplyDeleteI have been to the Shining hotel, though!
That’s cool that you were there. Did you have any foreboding sense?
DeleteHaha! Not really. It was a bright, sunny summer day. They make the most of the association: Shining-themed tours, a Shining-devoted bookshop, etc.
DeleteI don't like horror movies, so the only one of these that I've seen is You'll Like My Mother. I was shocked when it turned out to be so scary. I can't think of any other movies to add since I avoid horror.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Yes, I don’t blame you for not watching horror. I can never watch those horrible slasher flicks.
DeleteI don't think these are my cup of tea:)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a pain-free, fun Saturday:)
Yeah, it is not for many and I totally get that. I hate slasher films and won’t watch them but I am watching some good films that fit this category. Pain never leaves and now, have not been feeling well. No fever but had a sore throat yesterday, woozy in the head with dull headache and hate the ringing in the ears which seem more pronounced now.
DeleteLove Let the Right One in.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen Ravenous, it sounds scary.
I agree, The Shining is too obvious a choice, I stayed away from it as well.
I know The Shining is the most obvious choice but I had nothing else to pick.
ReplyDelete